How to Clean a Dog’s Ears Safely

Ear problems are one of the most common reasons dogs visit the vet, and regular checks at home catch many of them early. Cleaning, when it is needed, is quick and easy once you know the method, and the method is a little different from what most people expect. You clean a dog’s ear mostly by flushing and massaging, not by poking around inside it.

Before you start: check whether the ear is healthy

Cleaning a healthy but waxy ear is routine care. Cleaning an infected ear can be painful, can push debris further in, and, if the eardrum is damaged, some cleaners can harm the inner ear. So take a look first.

A healthy ear has pale pink skin, little or no smell, and at most a small amount of light-coloured wax.

See a vet before cleaning if you notice:

• redness, swelling or heat
• a strong yeasty, sour or unpleasant smell
• brown, black, yellow or bloody discharge
• frequent head shaking or scratching at the ear
• pain when the ear is touched
• a head tilt, loss of balance or flickering eyes, which can mean the infection has reached deeper

Why dog ears need a different approach

A dog’s ear canal is L-shaped: it runs down the side of the head and then turns sharply inwards towards the eardrum. That bend traps wax and moisture, which is part of why dogs get ear infections, and it is also why cotton buds are a bad idea: anything pushed into the canal tends to pack debris down into the bend rather than lift it out.

A liquid ear cleaner gets around this. It fills the canal, softens and loosens wax all the way down, and is then shaken out by the dog, bringing the debris with it.

What you need

• A dog-specific ear cleaner. Ask your vet to recommend one. Cleaners for dogs are formulated to break down wax and help dry the canal. Avoid hydrogen peroxide, alcohol, vinegar and home-made mixtures, which can irritate the canal.
• Cotton wool balls or gauze squares.
• A towel: your dog will shake, and you will get sprayed.
• Treats, to make it a good experience.

How to clean your dog’s ears, step by step

1. Choose a calm moment. After a walk, when your dog is relaxed, is ideal. A small dog can sit on your lap. A large dog can sit beside you, ideally somewhere easy to clean, such as a bathroom or outside.
2. Lift the ear flap gently upwards so the opening of the canal is straight and visible.
3. Fill the canal with cleaner. Hold the bottle near the opening (without pushing the tip into the canal) and squeeze until the liquid is pooling at the entrance. Most people use too little. You need enough to fill the canal.
4. Massage the base of the ear for about 30 seconds. You should hear a squelching sound as the cleaner moves around and loosens the wax.
5. Step back and let your dog shake their head. This brings the loosened debris up out of the canal. Hold the towel up to protect yourself.
6. Wipe away the debris from the ear flap and the entrance of the canal with cotton wool or gauze wrapped around your finger. Only clean as deep as you can easily see, no further than about the first knuckle of your finger.
7. Repeat if needed, then do the other ear with fresh cotton wool.
8. Reward your dog with a treat and praise.

If your dog shows pain at any point, stop and book a vet appointment.

How often to clean your dog’s ears

There is no single schedule for every dog:

• Healthy ears, upright ears, no history of problems: check weekly. Clean only when you can see wax building up.
• Heavy, floppy or hairy ears, or a dog that swims a lot: often every week or two, or after swimming.
• Dogs with allergies or recurring ear infections: follow your vet’s plan, which may include regular cleaning to help keep infections away.

Cleaning more often than needed can irritate the canal and make problems more likely, not less.

Signs of an ear infection

Ear infections (otitis externa) are usually caused by bacteria and yeast that normally live on the skin overgrowing in a warm, moist or inflamed ear. Allergies are the most common underlying trigger, which is why some dogs get ear infections again and again. Ear mites, grass seeds and other foreign objects are other causes.

Typical signs are head shaking, scratching, a bad smell, discharge, redness and pain. A soft, puffy swelling of the ear flap after a lot of shaking is usually an aural hematoma, a pocket of blood in the flap, which also needs a vet.

Ear infections need a proper diagnosis. Your vet will look down the canal with an otoscope to check the eardrum and may take a sample of the discharge to see under a microscope which organisms are present, so that the right medication is used. Cleaning alone does not cure an established infection.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Pushing cotton buds or anything pointed into the canal.
• Using too little cleaner, so it never reaches the bend in the canal.
• Using hydrogen peroxide, alcohol or vinegar.
• Cleaning an ear that is already red, sore or smelly instead of getting it checked.
• Using leftover ear medicine from a previous infection without a vet’s advice.
• Plucking ear hair routinely. Many vets now only recommend it in specific cases.

Ear and eye problems often go together in allergic dogs. If your dog’s eyes are red as well, read why are my dog’s eyes red, and for more guides, visit our ears and eyes section.